Vertical rail measurement device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a portable device for measuring vertical rail measurements under service to record and report excessive vertical rail movement to prevent a train from derailing. The device may be pivoting with a tilt sensor and light-weight. The device may include a microprocessor, sensors, and a display. The device may be installed on the rail. The device may sense an approaching train, automatically turn on the device, and measure the real-time vertical displacement and the maximum/minimum vertical movement of the rail while the train is operating over the rail at all speeds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/752,066 filed on Jan. 24, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/508,008 filed on Jul. 10, 2019, and claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/767,728, filedNov. 15, 2018, the contents of which applications are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to railcars and, more particularly, to avertical rail measuring device for the railway industry.

BACKGROUND

There is no portable device that allows measurement and recording ofrail vertical movement during full service of a train or locomotive,Currently, the only way to measure this distance between the tracks ismeasured is with a mechanical measuring device without the ability todata log, or detect approaching train, or send the data to an externaldevice. A need exists for a portable, light-weight, electronic deicethat mounts easily to the web of the rail and the base on the ground anddata logs the information that includes maximum/minimum vertical raildisplacement.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a portable electronic device formeasuring maximum/minimum vertical rail displacement measurements underservice to record and report excessive vertical rail movement to preventa train from derailing. The device may include a microprocessor,sensors, and a display. The device may be installed on the rail. Thedevice may sense an approaching train, automatically turn on the device,and measure the real-time vertical rail displacement and themaximum/minimum vertical rail displacement while the train is operatingover the rail at all speeds.

According to an embodiment, a vertical rail measurement device tomeasure maximum/minimum vertical displacement distance for the movementof a rail when a train is passing over the device may comprise a controlbox configured to mount to a web of a rail and a measurement arm thatpivots and extends through a sensor and the control box to one of theground or a track ballast. The measurement arm may measure a real-timevertical rail displacement, a maximum vertical rail displacement, and aminimum vertical rail displacement while a train is operating at allspeeds. The measurement arm may use a tilt sensor within the control boxand may extend and fix to the ground or track ballast. Additionally, thecontrol box may include one or more sensors that automatically detect anapproaching train and automatically turn on the vertical railmeasurement device when an approaching train is in range. The controlbox may measure and record both the maximum and minimum vertical raildisplacement to ensure the maximum and minimum vertical raildisplacement does not exceed a vertical rail displacement that couldderail the train. The vertical rail measurement device may weigh lessthan 3 pounds. Further, the control box may include a display thatdisplays one or more of the following: the real-time vertical raildisplacement, the maximum vertical rail displacement, or the minimumvertical rail displacement. The display may be customizable byprogramming to display other features and information. The display maybe an LCD display. Additionally, the control box may include amicroprocessor that includes data storage that can be programmed torecord and log any data from the vertical rail measurement device. Thedata from the vertical rail measurement device may be transmitted fromthe control box to a smart device via Bluetooth. Further, the controlbox may include a magnetic mount on a mounting portion of the controlbox, wherein the magnetic mount attaches to the web of the rail.Additionally, the measurement arm may include a tilt sensor pivot pointincluding an arm attached to a ball that rests on ground or trackballast.

According to another embodiment, a vertical rail measurement device tomeasure a vertical displacement distance for the movement of a rail whena train is passing over the device may comprise a control box configuredto mount to a web of a rail and a measurement arm that pivots andextends from a vertical sensor and the control box to one of the groundor a track ballast. The control box may include a microprocessor thatincludes data storage that can be programmed to record and log any datafrom the vertical rail measurement device. The control box may alsoinclude a display that displays one or more of the following data: areal-time vertical rail displacement, a maximum vertical raildisplacement, or a minimum vertical rail displacement. The measurementarm may measure the real-time vertical rail displacement, the maximumvertical rail displacement, and the minimum vertical rail displacementwhile a train is operating at all speeds. Additionally, the measurementarm may be a pivoting point with a tilt sensor within the control boxand may have an arm with a ball that extends to the top of the ground orthe track ballast.

In another embodiment, a vertical rail measurement device to measure avertical displacement distance for the movement of a rail when a trainis passing over the device may comprise a control box configured tomount to a web of a rail and a measurement arm that pivots and extendsthrough a vertical sensor and the control box to one of the ground or atrack ballast. The control box may include a magnetic mount thatattaches to the web of the rail. The control box may also include amicroprocessor that includes data storage that can be programmed torecord and log any data from the vertical rail measurement device.Further, the control box may include an LCD display that displays thefollowing data: a real-time vertical rail displacement, a maximumvertical rail displacement, and a minimum vertical rail displacement.The control box may also include one or more sensors that automaticallydetect an approaching train and automatically turn on the vertical railmeasurement device when an approaching train is in range. Themeasurement arm may measure the real-time vertical rail displacement,the maximum vertical rail displacement, and the minimum vertical raildisplacement while a train is operating at all speeds. The measurementarm may use a pivoting point with a tilt sensor within the control boxto measure the vertical rail displacement and extend and fix to theground or the track ballast. The measurement arm may include a pivotingtilt sensor connected to an arm with a ball on the end and is placed tothe ground or the track ballast.

In yet another embodiment, a vertical rail measurement device to measurea vertical displacement distance for the movement of a rail when a trainis passing over the device comprises a control box configured to mountto a web of a rail and a measurement arm that pivots and extends througha vertical tilt sensor and the control box to one of the ground or atrack ballast. The control box may also include magnets to magneticallyattach the control box to the web of the rail. Additionally, the controlbox may include a microprocessor that includes data storage that can beprogrammed to record and log any data from the vertical rail measurementdevice. The control box may include a display that displays one or moreof the following data: a real-time vertical rail displacement, a maximumvertical rail displacement, or a minimum vertical rail displacement. Themeasurement arm may measure the real-time vertical rail displacement,the maximum vertical rail displacement, and the minimum vertical raildisplacement while a train is operating at all speeds. The measurementarm may include a pivoting tilt sensor connected to an arm with a ballon the end of the arm with the ball extending to the ground or the trackballast.

These features, along with many others, are discussed in greater detailbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a vertical rail measurement devicein accordance with an embodiment of the system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vertical rail measurement deviceillustrated in FIG. 1 installed on a rail in accordance with anembodiment of the system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vertical railmeasurement device installed on a rail in accordance with an embodimentof the system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another vertical rail measurement deviceattached to a rail in accordance with an embodiment of the system of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the vertical rail measurementdevice of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the system of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the vertical rail measurementdevice of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the system of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the vertical rail measurementdevice of FIG. 4 in accordance with an embodiment of the system of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the data transmission andreception components in accordance with an embodiment of the verticalrail measurement device of the present invention.

The reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarilydrawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of various examples of the invention,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a parthereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various examplestructures, systems, and steps in which aspects of the invention may bepracticed. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements ofparts, structures, example devices, systems, and steps may be utilizedand structural and functional modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms“top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” and the like may be used inthis specification to describe various example features and elements ofthe invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience,e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures. Nothing inthis specification should be construed as requiring a specificthree-dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within thescope of this invention.

This invention is a vertical rail measurement device 100 for the railwayindustry designed to be light weight and portable. The vertical railmeasurement device 100 may be spring-loaded and installed between theweb of the rail. In another embodiment, the vertical rail measurementdevice 100 may include a pivoting tilt sensor and installed between theweb of the rail. The vertical rail measurement device 100 may include afull display. The vertical rail measurement device 100 may automaticallydetect an approaching train. The vertical rail measurement device 100may turn on automatically when an approaching train is in range. Oncethe vertical rail measurement device 100 is installed on the web of therail and the base on the ground, the vertical rail measurement device100 senses the approaching train, automatically turns on, and measuresthe maximum and minimum up and down rail movement while a train isoperating over the rail at all speeds. In another embodiment, thevertical rail measurement device 100 may detect a train speed and/ordirection. The vertical rail measurement device 100 may measure andrecord the separation of the rail to ensure the vertical railmeasurement device 100 does not exceed the maximum vertical distancethat could derail the train. The vertical rail measurement device 100may be light-weight and weigh under three pounds. The vertical railmeasurement device 100 may be a portable device. The vertical railmeasurement device 100 may include a microprocessor with multi-display.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a vertical rail measurementdevice 100. Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates an side perspective view ofa vertical rail measurement device 100 and FIG. 2 illustrates aperspective view of the vertical rail measurement device 100 asillustrated in FIG. 1 with the vertical rail measurement device 100installed on a rail 10. The vertical rail measurement device 100 mayinclude a control box 110, a measurement arm 130, and a sensor 140. Themeasurement arm 130 may extend through the control box 110 verticallyand through the sensor 140. The measurement arm 130 may be spring-loadedto slidably extend through the control box 110 and the sensor 140 inorder to extend from the ground and measure the vertical displacement ofa rail 10. Specifically as illustrated in FIG. 2, the vertical railmeasurement device 100 may be installed on a web 12 of the rail 10 withthe measurement arm 130 fixed to the track ballast on the ground.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the measurement arm 130 includes a first end132 and a second end 134 opposite the first end 132. The first end 132may include a knob or ball 138 that may provide a sliding stop for themeasurement arm 130 within the control box 110. The second end 134 mayinclude a plate 136 attached to the end of the second end 134. The plate136 may be circular in shape so that the plate 136 can be fixed to theground, track ballast, or ground. The measurement arm 130 may beslidably attached or connected to the control box 110 and through thesensor 140. The measurement arm 130 may be spring-loaded and slidablyextend through the control box 110 and the sensor 140 while fixed to theground or track ballast or stone to measure and record the maximum andminimum vertical distance rail movement while a train is operating overthe rail 10 at all speeds.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control box 110 may be arectangular shape with a top panel 112 and a bottom panel 114 oppositethe top panel 112. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top panel 112may include a display 124. The display 124 may be an LCD display orsimilar display known and used in the art. The display 124 may displayvarious measurements, such as a real-time vertical rail displacement,and minimum and maximum vertical rail displacements. The display 124 maybe customizable by software and/or programming to display other featuresand other information as recognized as pertinent to the operators. Thecontrol box 110 may also include one or more sensors 140. The one ormore sensors 140 may sense and detect an approaching train andautomatically turn on the vertical rail measurement device 100. Thecontrol box 110 may be powered by various batteries.

Generally, the vertical rail measurement device 100 and specifically,the control box 110 may attach or be mountable to one of the web 12 ofthe rail 10. The control box 110 may include a mounting portion 120. Themounting portion 120 may attach or be mountable to one of the web 12 ofthe rail 10 in various other mechanical means. For example, the mountingportion 120 of the control box 110 may attach or mount to the web 12 ofthe rail 10 via various magnets or magnetic arrays 122 to magneticallyattach the control box 110 and the vertical rail measurement device 100to the web 12 of the rail 10. Additionally, the mounting portion 120 andthe control box 110 may utilize other mechanical coupling means, such asstraps, snaps, clips, screw fasteners, and any other mechanical couplingmeans without departing from this invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a vertical rail measurementdevice 300. Specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates an side perspective view ofa vertical rail measurement device 300 installed on a rail 10. Forembodiment of FIG. 3, the features are referred to using similarreference numerals under the “3xx” series of reference numerals, ratherthan “1xx” as used in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Accordingly, certainfeatures of the vertical rail measurement device 300 that were alreadydescribed above with respect to the vertical rail measurement device 100of FIG. 1 may be described in lesser detail, or may not be described atall. The vertical rail measurement device 300 may include a control box310, and a measurement arm 330. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a sensor 340may be part of the control box 310. The measurement arm 330 may slidablyextend through the sensor 340 of the control box 310 vertically. Themeasurement arm 330 may be spring-loaded to slidably extend through thesensor 340 of the control box 310 in order to extend from the ground andmeasure the vertical displacement of a rail 10. Specifically asillustrated in FIG. 3, the vertical rail measurement device 300 may beinstalled on a web 12 of the rail 10 with the measurement arm 330 fixedto the track ballast on the ground.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the measurement arm 330 includes a first end332 and a second end 334 opposite the first end 332. The second end 334may include a plate 336 attached to the end of the second end 334. Theplate 336 may be circular in shape so that the plate 336 can be fixed tothe ground or track ballast. The measurement arm 330 may be slidablyattached or connected through the sensor 340 of the control box 310. Themeasurement arm 330 may be spring-loaded and slidably extend through thesensor 340 of the control box 310 while fixed to the ground or trackballast or stone to measure and record the maximum and minimum verticaldistance rail movement while a train is operating over the rail 10 atall speeds.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the control box 310 may be arectangular shape with a top panel 312 and a bottom panel 314 oppositethe top panel 312. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the top panel 312 mayinclude a display 324. The display 324 may be an LCD display or similardisplay known and used in the art. The display 324 may display variousmeasurements, such as a real-time vertical rail displacement, andminimum and maximum vertical rail displacements. The display 324 may becustomizable by software and/or programming to display other featuresand other information as recognized as pertinent to the operators. Thecontrol box 310 may also include one or more sensors 340. The one ormore sensors 340 may sense and detect an approaching train andautomatically turn on the vertical rail measurement device 300. Thecontrol box 310 may be powered by various batteries.

Generally, the vertical rail measurement device 300 and specifically,the control box 310 may attach or be mountable to one of the web 12 ofthe rail 10. The control box 310 may include a mounting portion 320. Themounting portion 320 may attach or be mountable to one of the web 12 ofthe rail 10 in various other mechanical means. For example, the mountingportion 320 of the control box 310 may attach or mount to the web 12 ofthe rail 10 via various magnets or magnetic arrays to magneticallyattach the control box 310 and the vertical rail measurement device 300to the web 12 of the rail 10. Additionally, the mounting portion 320 andthe control box 310 may utilize other mechanical coupling means, such asstraps, snaps, clips, screw fasteners, and any other mechanical couplingmeans without departing from this invention.

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate another embodiment of a vertical rail measurementdevice 400.

Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of a verticalrail measurement device 400 installed on a rail 10. FIG. 5 illustrates aside perspective view of the vertical rail device 400 not installed onthe rail 10. FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of the verticalrail device 400 installed on the rail 10. FIG. 7 illustrates anotherside perspective view of the vertical rail device 400 installed on therail 10. For the embodiment of FIGS. 4-7, the features are referred tousing similar reference numerals under the “4xx” series of referencenumerals, rather than “1xx” as used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 or “3xx”as used in the embodiment of FIG. 3. Accordingly, certain features ofthe vertical rail measurement device 400 that were already describedabove with respect to the vertical rail measurement device 100, 300 ofFIGS. 1 and 3 may be described in lesser detail, or may not be describedat all. The vertical rail measurement device 400 may include a controlbox 410, a measurement arm 430, and a mounting portion 420. Asillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a sensor 440 may be part of the controlbox 410. The control box 410 may be tiltably attached to the mountingportion 420 at one or more pivot points 422. The measurement arm 430 mayextend through the control box 410 and the sensor 440 of the control box410 vertically. The measurement arm 430 may include a pivoting tiltsensor 440 that extends through the control box 410 in order to extendto the ground or ballast and measure the vertical displacement of therail 10. Specifically as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the verticalrail measurement device 400, and more specifically, the mounting base450 may be installed on a web 12 of the rail 10 with the measurement arm430 and a ball 436 resting on the track ballast on the ground.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4-7, the measurement arm 430 includes a firstportion 432 and a second portion 434. The first portion 432 may extendfrom the control box 410 and the vertical tilt sensor 440. The secondportion 434 may extend perpendicularly from the first portion 432towards the direction of the ground. The second portion 434 may includea ball 436 located opposite the first portion and at an end of thesecond portion 434. The ball 436 that may rest on the track ballast orthe ground such that the vertical tilt sensor 440 measures the minimumand maximum vertical rail displacement. The measurement arm 430 may bepivotally attached or connected through the sensor 440 of the controlbox 410.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4-7, the control box 410 may be include a toppanel 412. As illustrated in FIGS. 4-7, the top panel 412 may include adisplay 424. The display 424 may be an LCD display or similar displayknown and used in the art. The display 424 may display variousmeasurements, such as a real-time vertical rail displacement, andminimum and maximum vertical rail displacements. The display 424 may becustomizable by software and/or programming to display other featuresand other information as recognized as pertinent to the operators. Thecontrol box 410 may also include one or more additional sensors. The oneor more sensors may sense and detect an approaching train andautomatically turn on the vertical rail measurement device 400 when thetrain is travelling on the rails and over the vertical rail measurementdevice 400 and the control box 410. The control box 410 may be poweredby various batteries.

Generally, the vertical rail measurement device 400 and specifically,the control box 410 and the mounting portion 420 may attach or bemountable to one of the web 12 of the rail 10. The control box 410 maybe tiltably attached to the mounting portion 420 at one or more pivotpoints 422. As specifically illustrated in FIG. 6, the pivots points 422may be located on either side of the mounting portion 420 and thecontrol box 410. The mounting portion 320 may attach or be mountable toone of the web 12 of the rail 10 in various other mechanical means. Forexample, the mounting portion 420 of the control box 410 may attach ormount to the web 12 of the rail 10 via various magnets or magneticarrays to magnetically attach the mounting porting 420, the control box410, and the vertical rail measurement device 400 to the web 12 of therail 10. Additionally, the mounting portion 420 and the control box 410may utilize other mechanical coupling means, such as straps, snaps,clips, screw fasteners, and any other mechanical coupling means withoutdeparting from this invention.

For all of the vertical rail measurement devices 100, 300, 400 andspecifically, the control box 110, 310, 410 may include a remotecommunication method, such as Bluetooth, a radar, a 900 MHz radio, and amicroprocessor. The radio may be 900 MHz or other frequencies withoutdeparting from this invention. The radio may include an antenna onvertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400 to transmit theinformation. The purpose of the radio is to transmit data from thevertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400 to any remote locationsas required. Additionally, the Bluetooth may provide communication fromthe vertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400 to a smart device.

The vertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400 and specifically, thecontrol box 110, 310, 410 may also include a microprocessor as well asdata storage capabilities, such as USB and other forms of similar datastorage capabilities. The microprocessor may be programmed to includedata logging features as well and to record and log any and all datafrom the vertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400. The data loggedmay then be uploaded to be analyzed and reviewed as needed and required.

An embodiment for transmitting and receiving the data collected by thevertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400 described above isprovided in FIG. 8. It should be noted that the term “remote” as usedherein means any location that is not at the vertical rail measurementdevice 100, 300, 400. Such a location may be next to the vertical railmeasurement device 100, 300, 400, such as in a rail yard, or a locationthat is cross country with respect to the location of the vertical railmeasurement device 100, 300, 400.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the data from the vertical rail measurementdevice 100, 300, 400 may be transmitted to a geo-stationarycommunications satellite 152 and/or a cellular system 154 to one or moreremote receiving station(s) 156. The receiving station 156 transmits thedata via the Internet 158 to a web based portal 160 which is accessibleby a user via a workstation 162. Data collected and transmitted can befrom any vertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400. Location datamay be generated by Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology164. As was described above, the vertical rail measurement device 100,300, 400 may feature a number of additional data collection outputs,such as real-time vertical rail displacement, minimum and maximumvertical rail displacement, speed of the train, and direction of thetrain. Outputs from all of the data from the vertical rail measurementdevice 100, 300, 400 may be combined together to electronicallyrepresent the status or condition.

In an embodiment of the system, wireless sensors located at variouslocations throughout a rail yard may be set up in a wireless networkwith each sensor (node) having its own power source and transceiver. Thenodes can communicate with other nodes and determine the best path ofcommunication and minimize power requirements throughout the rail yard.

The vertical rail measurement device 100, 300, 400 may include areceiver/CPU and a GPS transponder which interacts with the U.S. Federallocation satellites. This feature gives location, altitude, speed andother features offered by conventional GPS capabilities. The GPS andsensor data is then transmitted via a modem in the specified form oftransmission along with the remaining rail displacement data. Once thedata is received by the end user, the data can be further combined foradditional value. A preferred method to add value to data generated bythe system is by associating the location data (GPS) with informationstored in the on-board memory of microprocessors in the vertical railmeasurement device 100, 300, 400.

Once data is received by the end user (such as receiving station 156 orportal 160 in FIG. 8), it is loaded into a website or computer basedsoftware program capable of sorting, running calculations, manipulatingand displaying data in formats that benefit the end user. The softwaremay include a website which can display and run calculations to providethe needed information for the end user.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents set forth herein. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope ofthe present invention. It should be understood that the inventiondisclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations oftwo or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from thetext and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitutevarious alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodimentsdescribed herein explain the best modes known for practicing theinvention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize theinvention.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention, the scope of which is defined by this description.

1-30. (canceled)
 31. A method of measuring a vertical displacementdistance of a rail, the method comprising: measuring a first verticalposition of a rail via a measurement arm of a control box configured tobe coupled to the rail; measuring a second vertical position of the railvia the measurement arm; and based on the first vertical position andthe second vertical position, determining a vertical displacement of therail.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising displaying, at thecontrol box, the vertical displacement of the rail.
 33. The method ofclaim 31, further comprising transmitting, from the control box, thevertical displacement of the rail.
 34. The method of claim 31, whereinthe vertical displacement includes a real-time vertical raildisplacement, a maximum vertical rail displacement, or a minimumvertical rail displacement of the rail.
 35. The method of claim 31,wherein: the control box is coupled to a first portion of the rail; andthe second vertical position includes a position of the rail while atrain is passing over the first portion of the rail.
 36. The method ofclaim 31, wherein the vertical displacement includes a separation of therail from the ground.
 37. The method of claim 31, further comprising:comparing the vertical displacement of a displacement threshold; andbased on the vertical displacement exceeding the displacement threshold,outputting a signal.
 38. A method of measuring a vertical displacementdistance of a rail, the method comprising: determining, via ameasurement arm of a control box configured to removably coupled to arail, a vertical displacement of the rail; wherein the measurement armincludes a first end and a second end being opposite the first end andconfigured to rest on the ground.
 39. The method of claim 38, whereinthe vertical displacement includes a difference between a first verticalposition of the rail at a first time and a second vertical position ofthe rail at a second time.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein: thecontrol box is coupled to a first portion of the rail; and a train istraveling over the first portion of the rail at the second time.
 41. Themethod of claim 40, wherein the train is spaced away from the firstportion of the rail at the first time.
 42. The method of claim 39,wherein the vertical displacement includes a real-time vertical raildisplacement, a maximum vertical rail displacement, or a minimumvertical rail displacement of the rail.
 43. The method of claim 31,further comprising magnetically coupling the control box to the rail andwherein the ground includes track ballast.
 44. The method of claim 31,further comprising removing the control box from the rail.
 45. Avertical rail measurement device comprising: a measurement arm; aprocessor coupled to the measurement arm; and a memory storing one ormore instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause theprocessor to: measure, via the measurement arm, a first verticalposition of a rail at a first time; measure, via the measurement arm, asecond vertical position of the rail at a second time; based on thefirst vertical position and the second vertical position, determine afirst vertical displacement of the rail; and output the first verticaldisplacement of the rail.
 46. The vertical rail measurement device ofclaim 45, wherein the one or more instructions, when executed by theprocessor, further cause the processor to: compare the verticaldisplacement of a displacement threshold; and based on the verticaldisplacement exceeding the displacement threshold, output a warningsignal.
 47. The vertical rail measurement device of claim 45, whereinoutputting the vertical displacement of the rail includes transmitting,displaying, or storing the vertical displacement.
 48. The vertical railmeasurement device of claim 45, wherein the vertical displacementincludes a maximum vertical displacement of the rail during a timeperiod that includes the first and second times.
 49. The vertical railmeasurement device of claim 45, wherein the vertical displacementincludes the vertical displacement of the rail at the second time. 50.The vertical rail measurement device of claim 45, wherein the one ormore instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause theprocessor to: measure a third vertical position of the rail at a thirdtime; based on the first vertical position and the third verticalposition, determine a second vertical displacement of the rail; andoutput the second vertical displacement of the rail.